A Trump executive order targeting “politicized debanking” may have just handed the gaming world a lifeline—by stripping away the moral veto power Mastercard and Visa have wielded over Steam and indie storefronts, developers could finally see their legal creations processed without corporate censorship.
The White House has dropped an executive order titled “Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans,” which bars banks—and potentially payment processors—from restricting legal transactions based on political, religious, or ideological grounds. This move arrives just as gaming platforms like Steam have faced mounting pressure from Visa and Mastercard over adult or controversial content.
Signed on August 7, 2025, the order instructs federal regulators—including the FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, CFPB, NCUA, and SBA—to eliminate notions like “reputational risk” from their supervisory manuals within 180 days. That’s the kind of flexible excuse that payment giants use to censor platforms by threatening to sever ties if they host “risky” content.
By mandating objective, risk-based decision-making—and banning denials based on lawful business activities—the EO undercuts the justification Visa and Mastercard often lean on to pressure storefronts into self-censorship. For instance, Steam and indie platforms have reported game delistings following processor complaints; now, those processors could face enforcement if they invoke “reputational risk” as grounds for blocking payments.
Regulators are also directed to review past cases of “politicized or unlawful debanking” and impose penalties—fines, consent decrees, or DOJ referrals—for violations under laws like the FTC Act or Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The SBA, within 120 days, must work to reinstate those previously denied services and notify affected parties.
Analysts and commenters have noted that the order could dismantle the processors’ ability to censor adult-oriented or politically charged games, forcing them to either justify restrictions under objective criteria or relent.
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